The Direct Cremation Podcast

Get ready to dive deep on:

🎓 The truth about what mortuary school really teaches
🙅🏽‍♀️ The onboarding mistakes that push new hires out the door
📉 How micromanagement kills motivation
❤️‍🔥 What smart funeral homes are doing to keep their teams happy

Whether you're a funeral home owner, manager, or just passionate about funeral service—this episode will change how you think about hiring and training.

💡 Don’t miss this must-watch conversation packed with real talk, bold insights, and practical solutions.

Watch NOW and subscribe for more content funeral pro tips! 🎙

#FuneralHomeSoftware #CremationSoftw...

Courtney spills real-world strategies that helped her:
📈 How tech + empathy create faster trust and fewer callbacks
🌟 Build a brand that families loved (55+ 5-star reviews)
💸 Keep ROAS in check while marketing cremations
💡 Real reason to sold Lumen Cremation (and what she’d do again)

Whether you’re looking to streamline online cremation services, improve your funeral planning software, or explore innovative funeral home ideas, this one’s a must-watch. 👀

Learn how top-performing funeral homes are using cremation software to grow smarter—not just bigger! 💡

#funeralsoftware #cremationsoftware #onlinefuneralarrangements #funeraltech #funeralhome

Timestamps

(00:00...

The funeral industry continues to evolve, and artificial intelligence (AI) is driving much of this transformation. In this episode of The Direct Cremation Podcast, CEO Tyler Yamasaki spoke with tech expert Will Chang about how AI is changing funeral home software, cremation software, and online funeral arrangements. Their discussion explored practical ways AI enhances efficiency, improves customer experience, and strengthens marketing cremations.

What you’ll learn:
✅ How AI can write obituaries in seconds (and make them personal!)
✅ The secret to using ChatGPT for funeral home marketing & websites
✅ How AI-generated funeral home images can enhance your bra...

What if your final farewell could help the planet thrive? 🌍

In this episode, we sit down with Micah Truman, CEO of Return Home, to explore how Natural Organic Reduction (NOR)—also known as human composting—redefines death care.

Micah shares:

✔️ How NOR turns human remains into nutrient-rich soil in just two months
✔️ The emotional and environmental impact of this groundbreaking process
✔️ Stories of families creating meaningful tributes with NOR
✔️ The challenges and triumphs of introducing a brand-new disposition option

Whether you're curious about sustainable alternatives to cremation or looking for innovative...

What does soup ladle, windy ash-scattering, and funeral home management software have in common? 🥄💨

They’re all part of this can’t-miss episode of the Direct Cremation Podcast!

Join Tyler Yamasaki, CEO of Parting Pro, and Caroline Andre, our merchandising expert, as they share hilarious stories and expert insights into growing your funeral home business with:

✅ The right tools for meaningful cremation arrangements (no more ladle moments!).
✅ Strategies to optimize your funeral arrangement software and online stores.
✅ How to price urns and keepsakes to compete with Amazon, Etsy, and more.
✅ Why Gen Z and Mill...

Douglas Klein, the founder of Chicagoland Cremation Options, transformed a career setback into an opportunity to build one of the most innovative cremation brands in the industry.

In a candid conversation on the Direct Cremation Podcast, hosted by Tyler Yamasaki, CEO of Parting Pro, Douglas shared his journey, strategies for success, and predictions for the future of funeral services. His insights offer a roadmap for funeral directors aiming to grow their businesses while embracing the changing needs of families.

Timestamps
(00:00) Intro
(01:10) Welcome to Direct Cremation Podcast
(01:25) Welcome Douglas Klein!
(02:24) Douglas' entry...

In today’s digital world, a strong online presence is essential for any business—especially for funeral homes, where families often search for services during critical times. In the most recent Direct Cremation Podcast episode, Tyler Yamasaki, CEO of Parting Pro, discussed Google’s Local Service Ads with co-founder Albert Chang. They explain how Local Service Ads can help funeral homes capture leads and reach local families more effectively. This episode offers valuable insights for anyone managing a funeral home, cremation website, or cemetery.

Get your own step-by-step guide to set up Local Service Ads yourself here:
h...

In this episode of the Direct Cremation Podcast, host Tyler Yamasaki sits down with Christopher Teel, a first-generation funeral director who has built multiple thriving businesses in death care. Discover how Teel went from pursuing law to owning multiple funeral brands, including a high-volume cremation service and a traditional funeral home in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

🔥 Listen in as we explore:
• Teel’s unexpected journey into death care
• The rise of cremation rates and how funeral homes can adapt
• The power of sales in the arrangement room and why it’s essential for funeral success
• Strategies to m...

In this episode, we sit down with Jeff Smith, a third-generation funeral director and the visionary behind Smith Family Funeral Homes and Arkansas Cremation. Jeff’s journey is nothing short of remarkable—he has more than 10X’d his family’s business in Central Arkansas, built both traditional and cremation-focused funeral homes, and created a small death care empire.

With 10 years of NFDA’s Pursuit of Excellence awards, his company is set to be inducted into the NFDA’s “Hall of Excellence” for their consistent achievement - a true testament to their dedication and impact in the industry.

...

Want a forecast of your service area or audit of your current Google Campaign? Get it here: https://partingpro.com/marketing-services

Online marketing might seem easy to set up, but getting it right is another story.

In this episode, my co-founder Albert Chang walks you through the top 10 mistakes that could be draining your ad budget.

It’s not just about following the basics or letting Google handle everything—there are seasoned competitors out there who will grab the attention of your families if your marketing isn’t on point.

Let’s make s...

From humble beginnings in the death care industry nearly 30 years ago, Troy Kaltenberg's journey is nothing short of inspiring. Starting at Service Corporation International, he cut his teeth in the world of pre-need sales. Fast forward to today, and Troy has built a thriving cremation brand, Grand Rapids Cremation Services, serving thousands of families and earning rave reviews along the way.

In this episode, we dive into the story of this first-generation funeral director who, in just five years, turned his vision into a powerhouse business. Whether you're dreaming of launching your own brand or just curious...

Barbara is back, baby! 🎉

In this episode, we’re thrilled to have Barbara Kemmis, the executive director of the Cremation Association of North America (CANA), joining us for the third time! Barbara is here to drop some serious knowledge bombs about the latest cremation trends.

In this jam-packed episode, we dive into CANA's annual report, one of the most comprehensive in the industry. We uncover fascinating insights into death rates and the ever-evolving choices families make between cremation and burial. Did you know that while cremation is on the rise, the growth rate is starting to sl...

With three decades of experience, Scott Newton is a seasoned veteran in the death care industry. As President and founding member of Graystone Associates, Scott and his team have been helping funeral homes thrive for over 20 years. After assisting hundreds of funeral homes, Scott reveals the key strategies and metrics essential for growing market share.

In this episode, discover Scott's insights on innovation in death care (a must), adopting a growth mindset (absolutely necessary), and the one crucial metric that drives the highest valuation in the industry [(34:08)]. Gain invaluable knowledge from a true expert—watch now!

...

Running four different locations is challenging. Maintaining a 5.0-star rating on Google for all of them? Almost impossible. But Julie Bishop of Crevasse’s Simple Cremation does it with finesse.

In the latest episode of the Direct Cremation Podcast, discover Julie’s journey from her beginnings to expanding her cremation business to serve thousands of grateful families. Learn her secrets to maintaining a consistent, five-star experience across multiple locations and teams without compromising quality.

Timestamps
(00:00) Intro
(00:55) Welcome to Direct Cremation Podcast
(02:01) How Julie got into deathcare
(05:57) How Julie knew that she want...

In this episode, we’re honored to welcome Robert Hunsaker, a true legend in the death care industry. From his childhood days living in a funeral home with his funeral director father, to working in cemetery groundskeeping, and climbing the ranks at Batesville, Great Western Insurance Company, and Sinosource, Robert's journey is nothing short of extraordinary. He’s owned funeral homes, cemeteries, and cremation businesses, and now serves as the president of the Cremation Association of North America (CANA).

But it’s not just his impressive resume that stands out. When Robert speaks about the latest trends, his de...

Boost your contract totals! Caroline Andree, Head of Merchandising at Parting Pro, reveals the most popular merchandise chosen by families based on exclusive data from thousands of online arrangements at Parting Pro. Learn what's selling and how to tailor your recommendations to maximize your contract totals and provide the most value for families.

If you'd like the insert of the best selling merchandise, please email caroline@partingpro.com for a copy.

Timestamps
(00:00) Intro
(00:40) Welcome to Direct Cremation Podcast
(01:33) What Caroline will be sharing with us today
(02:03) Where Caroline gets the data<...

At the helm of a successful funeral home, a new cemetery, and a growing online cremation service, Bryce Bunker exemplifies a family-focused, service-centric approach that has propelled him to success in competitive corners of death care. 

In this episode of the Direct Cremation Podcast, discover how Bryce's innovative methods have redefined service in the cemetery. Learn about his strategic insights into the fast-growing, highly competitive market of low-cost online cremations, and how his unique blend of compassion and entrepreneurship is setting new standards.

Timestamps 
(00:00) Intro 
(01:07) Welcome to Direct Cremation Podcast 
(01:20) Welcome Bryce Bunk...

Jimmy Altmeyer is as impressive as they come. As a fourth-generation funeral director, he started with 3 funeral homes and has grown his empire into 53 rooftops and serves over 12,000 families each year. While that accomplishment alone is impressive, when you hear how Jimmy talks about the profession and the level of service that he strives to provide to every family that his companies serve, that’s where he really shines. 

In this episode, Jimmy gives us a peek into how his funeral homes maintain such a high level of service at a scale larger than some corporately owned gro...

In this episode of the Direct Cremation Podcast, reveal the unexpected challenges behind creating the ideal online cremation service. While it seems straightforward with its streamlined offerings and minimal overhead, there's much more beneath the surface. Uncover the five crucial elements that are essential for success in this unique business. Watch to learn what really makes an online cremation company thrive beyond the basics.

Timestamps 
(00:00) Intro
(01:05) Welcome to Direct Cremation Podcast
(02:24) Where to start when creating a cremation society
(11:41) Expectations vs. Reality
(15:45) Tips for Funeral Homeowners or Directors: Navigating online arrangement processes

From answering the phone wrong to nickel and diming your families all the way to the bank, in this episodes of the Direct Cremation Podcast, we discuss some of the biggest mistakes that will absolutely kill your cremation brand. 

After managing one of the largest cremation brands in the world (5,000+ cremations/year) to now training and consulting for hundreds of cremation companies across the country, Ashley Jones has seen a lot of different approaches to building a cremation company. In this episode, we discuss some of the biggest mistakes that owners make that have destroyed promising cremation b...

The stressful environment of the death care professional can be non-stop. Burnout rates are high, and turnover seems to be an ever-present issue withing the funeral profession. In this episode, Will de Michaelis shares his insightful journey into the world of breathwork and meditation. 

While you might think that these are non-sense things for hippies, Will would respectfully disagree. See how breathwork can create lower anxiety, less stress, and the ability to be more connected to people and relationship, the most important facets of death care. "Don't judge a book by it's cover" definitely holds true for t...

With over 80% of new graduates of mortuary school being female, the need for a death care group centered around empowering women is becoming increasingly vital. Founded by some of the more influential women in death care, the Death Care Collective is just getting started. 

Whether you're an owner, a manager, or even just a new graduate, understanding the challenges and support needed for the new majority of death care is important. 

In this episode, we talk to Erin Creger, founding member, as we talk about how this group started out of COVID, grew with some of...

In this exclusive webinar, co-hosts Tyler Yamasaki and Will de Michaelis sit down with Poul Lemasters, a renowned death care lawyer and key advisor to the FTC’s changes, to speak about the upcoming changes.

In this talk, we discussed:

Described as "the most informative webinar I've attended in regards to this topic", this is not one you want to miss.

For Innovative Fu...

Sandra Walker boasts an impressive career in the death care industry. She currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer of Fairmount Memorial Association, overseeing seven memorial parks and a few cremation brands. Additionally, she holds a position on the board of the Cremation Association of North America and is a founding member of the Death Care Collective. This remarkable journey follows nearly two decades of dedication at SCI.

Despite her accomplishments, Sandra humbly attributes her success to great mentors and a support system in death care. However, her path has been marked by unwavering perseverance, hard work...

Scaling a funeral home to serve more than 1,000 families annually demands competent execution and a well-devised business strategy. But to ramp that up to over 4,500 families in a single year requires phenomenal execution, a stellar team, and near-flawless operational efficiency. 

Drew de Michaelis was the operational maestro behind Omega Society during its pinnacle, when it was serving upwards of 4,500 families each year from just one Southern California location. This achievement was far from coincidental; it was the result of a meticulous, data-focused playbook designed for peak operational efficiency. 

In this enlightening episode, Drew unveils the es...

Funeral home competition is becoming increasingly intense due to a combination of factors, such as the lack of future generations wanting to continue the family business and increased investment in the field. 

An experienced death care professional had four clients call her in the week before a conference, expressing their intention to file for bankruptcy. This is unprecedented and raises concerns about the state of the funeral profession. 

The clients that called her shared common themes: low sales, dwindling case numbers, being traditional smaller firms in rural areas, and not keeping up with the times. Th...

Maggie McMillan quietly runs the #1 funeral company in Southern California, one largest and busiest regions in the country. Serving thousands of families a year. Her expansive funeral empire covers everything from prestigious full-service funeral homes, an eco-conscious natural burial cemetery, a handful of online cremation services, and an essential B2B mortuary services company. 

Just a few of her properties include: Wiefels & Son Mortuary, Wiefels Cremation and Funeral Services, All California Cremation, Simply Remembered, Joshua Tree Memorial Park. 

In this episode, Maggie pulls back the curtain on her recipe for success, showing commitment to excellence wi...

I want to show you how to let AI help you write email correspondence with your customers. It’s no shock that we write a lot of emails back and forth to our customers everyday. Let’s experiment with ChatGPT to see how it can help respond to a normal customer email. 
 

For Innovative Funeral Directors Blazing a Trail. Find us at https://directcremation.com
Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

Want to start a cremation brand yourself? Learn how the some of the biggest cremation brands do it at https://www.partingpro.com

Now, while AI has some limitations, it also provides tremendous opportunities to save time and outsource things we’re not good at. In today’s video, we will share how to use ChatGPT to respond to google reviews.

For Innovative Funeral Directors Blazing a Trail. Find us at https://directcremation.com
Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

Want to start a cremation brand yourself? Learn how the some of the biggest cremation brands do it at https://www.partingpro.com

Learn the playbook responsible for growing my family business to over 4500 calls a ye...

Today’s guest is Jimmy Lucas. Jimmy is a licensed funeral director, a certified crematory operator, a licensed advance funeral planner, licensed social worker, co-owner of a quaint funeral and cremation business which consists of over 15 funeral homes, 1 online cremation business, 2 crematories. He has over 110 employees and they serve over 3100 families per year. He’s also currently on the board of CANA, past president of the Texas Funeral Directors Association, and also serves on the advisory board of the Passare.

Timestamps
(00:00) Intro
(00:53) Welcome to Direct Cremation Podcast
(02:17) How Jimmy and his family got into the...

Today’s guest is Alexandra Jo. Alexandra is the host of the death positive Podcast, Death Curious, is a platform for death exploration and a community of like-minded, death positive people. They are also the Director of Outreach and Education of Parting Stone, the company responsible for creating solidified cremated remains — most famously known for their Shark Tank fame. 

Death Curious Podcast: https://deathcurious.com 
Parting Stone: https://partingstone.com 

Timestamps 
(00:00) Intro
(00:45) Welcome to Direct Cremation Podcast
(01:53) The Story of Parting Stone
(05:07) What Parting Stone's customer journey look like
(12:16) Some critiqu...

Hi and welcome to the Direct Cremation podcast. I’m your host, Will de Michaelis, death care consultant and former manager of the Omega Society, a large cremation brand that served over 4500 families per year. 

You’ll notice today, I’m by myself. I’m going to bring you a different kind of content than I usually do with Tyler. We'll be talking part 2 for self-care in the death care profession. My goal is to speak to death care professionals directly and acknowledge those difficulties of the profession and talk about ways to make our way through together...

Hi and welcome to the Direct Cremation podcast. I’m your host, Will de Michaelis, death care consultant and former manager of the Omega Society, a large cremation brand that served over 4500 families per year. 

You’ll notice today, I’m by myself. I’m going to bring you a different kind of content than I usually do with Tyler. We'll be talking about self-care in the death care profession. My goal is to speak to death care professionals directly and acknowledge those difficulties of the profession and talk about ways to make our way through together.

Time...

In this episode, we bring on Chris Boggs. Chris Boggs is the Chief Operating Officer of the Cremation Society of Maryland, McNabb Funeral Home, Metro Crematory, and Myers-Durboraw Funeral Home. 

Cremation Society of Maryland alone does 5,000 calls per year. Chris shares the insights in such a running a high volume and efficient deathcare operation.

Timestamps 
(00:00) Intro 
(00:53) Welcome to Direct Cremation Podcast 
(03:35) The beginning of Chris' professional career 
(09:33) How is the cremation society of Maryland team structured? 
(12:49) The business model 
(14:32) The phone answering system 
(20:02) “We only have one shot” 
(22:13...

Will de Michaelis is the former manager of the Omega Society, a cremation brand that serves over 4,500 families per year. After spending over a decade growing the Omega Society, Will was able to identify some of the most important elements that made the Omega Society such a huge success. Today, Will is going to share that insight with us and let us know what he’s been working on. 

Will's Masterclass signup link: https://www.wdgroupconsulting.com

Timestamps 

(00:00) Intro 01:54 Will's takeaways from Omega Society 
(04:09) The most important thing to Omega Society's success 
...

In this episode, we bring on Welton Hong. Welton is the founder of funeral home marketing agency Ring Ring Marketing.

Welton shares what successful death care marketing looks like in 2023. He tells us the biggest things you need to be doing as a funeral home owner to win more cases today.

Timestamps 

(00:00) Intro 
(00:48) Welcome to the Direct Cremation Podcast 
(01:54) What does Ring Ring do? 
(03:16) Changes to death care marketing after COVID 
(12:22) Shifts happening in the different types of death care businesses 
(15:21) Welton's tips for website conversions 
(18:32) How your we...

Today's guest is Kevin Waterston. If you could dream up a list of professional death care accomplishments, Kevin has probably exceeded that list. 

From living above the funeral home until age 21, to then starting, growing, and eventually selling one of the largest cremation societies in the world, and somehow mixing in being a past president of the Cremation Association of North America & Funeral and Memorial Information Council, he has done it all and from speaking with him, he’s still hungry for more. 

Timestamps 
(00:00) Intro 
(00:53) Welcome to Direct Cremation Podcast 
(01:53) How it started...

In today's episode, we're putting Tyler in the hot seat to explore the story behind Parting Pro. 

Timestamps 
(00:00) Intro 
(00:54) Welcome to Direct Cremation Podcast 
(02:38) The origin of Parting Pro 
(07:57) Getting into a program in silicon valley 
(11:04) What were the conversations like during the pivot 
(14:02) Parting Pro's first big sale 
(17:45) Death care moves really slow 
(21:07) Parting Pro now vs. 5 years ago 
(22:57) Funeral homes know what their problem is 
(24:26) Will's hot seat question 
(26:15) The mission of Parting Pro 
(29:26) What does the future hold for Parting Pro? 
(33:16) How Parting Pr...

In this episode, we discuss the important topic of removals in the death care industry. Whether you're a new funeral home or an established cremation brand, deciding whether to handle removals internally or outsource them is a critical consideration. We explore the pros and cons of both approaches and provide practical advice for making the best decision based on your business needs. Join us as we navigate this crucial aspect of the industry and offer valuable insights to help you streamline your operations. 

Timestamps 
(00:00) - Intro 
(01:18) - Welcome to the Direct Cremation Podcast 
(02:55) - Remo...

Today’s guest is Leili McMurrough. Leili is a licensed funeral director and licensed attorney in Illinois. She’s also the Program Director AND OWNER of Worsham College of Mortuary Science and an expert on the Gen-Z workforce in the industry. Leili sits on the American Board of Funeral Service Education as the Accreditation Chair, overseeing all the Mortuary Science programs across the country. We’re happy to have her on the podcast to discuss the changing workforce in deathcare and what you should consider when hiring, managing, and retaining young professionals in the death care industry. 

Timesta...